Next Morning, The


Band members               Related acts

- Earl Arthur - keyboards

- Bert Bailey - guitar

- Herbert Bailey - drums

- Lou Phillips - vocals

- Scipio Sargeant - bass, guitar
 

 

- Scipio Sargeant (solo efforts)

 

 


 

Genre: psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Next Morning

Company: Calla

Catalog: SC-2002

Year: 1971

Country/State: Brooklyn, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: small cut out hole top tight corner; original inner sleeve; white promo label

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: 4712

Price: $200.00

Paid: $78.11

 

I'll be the first to admit a fascination with black 1960s/1970s hard rock/psychedelic bands such as Black Merda, Hendrix, Ernie Joseph and Purple Image.  With the exception of Hendrix, these outfits were caught in an impossible Catch 22 situation whereby their music was simply too white for black audiences and too black for white audiences.  How do you get out of that no win situation?  That said, here's another little known outfit to add to the list.  

 

The late-1960s found guitarist Scipio Sargeant having left his native Trinidad for New York City.  Living in Brooklyn his lightening quick guitar began attracting attention, including that of  fellow Trinidadian/guitarist Bert Bailey.  Discovering a shared interest in hard rock, the pair decided to form a band, quickly recruiting keyboardist Earl Arthur, brother/drummer Herb Bailey and singer Lou Phillips.  With Scipio switching to bass the quintet began attracting attention on the city's club circuit.  Almost signed by Columbia, the group ended up with a recording contract on the Roulette Records affiliated Calla label.  Recorded at New York's Electric Lady Studios, their 1971 debut "The Next Morning" was produced by Dick Jacobs and clearly drew inspiration from Jimi Hendrix.  Propelled by Arthur's insane keyboards and Bert Bailey's wicked feedback drenched guitar, self-penned material such as "Changes of the Mind", "Life Is Love" and "Back To the Stone Age"  offered up impressive slices of Hendrix-styled heavy rock.  The comparison was further underscored by the fact that on numbers such as the growling title track Lou Phillips' vocals bore a modest resemblance to Hendrix.  Admittedly there wasn't anything 100% original here, but the overall performances were quite attractive, making for a first-rate set that should appeal to all guitar rock lovers.   (Dock it half a star for the butt ugly cover art - courtesy of Rubert Bonardy Jr.)

 

"The Next Morning" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) The Next Morning   (Lou Phillips - Scipio Sargeant - Bert Bailey) - 4:53

2.) Life   (Lou Phillips - Bert Bailey) - 2:50

3.) Changes of the Mind   (Lou Phillips - Scipio Sargeant - Bert Bailey) - 5:54

4.) Life Is Love   (Lou Phillips - Earl Arthur) - 5:22

 

(side 2)

1.) Back To the Stone Age   (Lou Phillips - Scipio Sargeant - Bert Bailey) - 5:15

2.) Adelane   (Lou Phillips - Bert Bailey) - 2:51

3.) A Jam of Love   (Lou Phillips - Scipio Sargeant - Herbert Bailey - Bert Bailey - Earl Arthur) - 6:18

4.) Faces Are Smiling!   (Lou Phillips - Bert Bailey) - 4:35

 

1999 saw Sundazed reissue the album in CD format (catalog number SC 6150).  Sargeant's also recorded as a solo act and is on the web at: beldukes15@aol.com

 

 

Back to Bad Cat homepage/search